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busmania Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2006 Posts: 1934 Location: Here
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:40 am Post subject: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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Buy used or new?
Can I buy a decent one for $500-$700?
If I buy one with a tig welder, can/should I sell my mig welder? I was eyeing this one (but new). I don't necessarily have a "need" for the tig welder but have always heard it is better than mig...although I don't know how to tig weld, I suppose I could learn just like I learned mig welding. http://denver.craigslist.org/tld/5419979287.html
I would use it for the occasional auto body sheet metal but more for cutting 3/16" or 1/4" steel. I am planning on building another bbq smoker soon so would need to cut thicker steel but cant see a need to cut thicker than 1/4" (my mig welder only welds to 1/4" anyway).
Any help/feedback is appreciated. |
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chazz79 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 2268 Location: ohio
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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Run from those all in one machines as fast as you can.
I know you're eyeballing them enviously thinking "I can tig and plasma cut with one box-woohoo!!!!" No-those are garbage.
I have @1000.00 in a used Miller 2050 plasma cutter. It's bulletproof and will cut at least 5/8" steel. It's an awesome machine that I'll likely keep forever as I'll never need more than it can do. I had a Miller 650 tig that was pretty well useless and close to the quality of machine you're looking at (Chinese crap). The low end tig's are dc only so they'll only handle ferrous metals (no aluminum-etc). They also only have air cooled torches that make them painfully slow in welding. I built a couple exhausts with my Miller tig and sold it-disappointed. It was no where near the quality of machine I had learned on in school $10k+ units with water cooled torches that did a much better job. _________________ One day as a lion, or a lifetime as lamb
The green monster in bits and peices: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332556&highlight=green+monster |
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busmania Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2006 Posts: 1934 Location: Here
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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chazz79 wrote: |
Run from those all in one machines as fast as you can.
I know you're eyeballing them enviously thinking "I can tig and plasma cut with one box-woohoo!!!!" No-those are garbage.
I have @1000.00 in a used Miller 2050 plasma cutter. It's bulletproof and will cut at least 5/8" steel. It's an awesome machine that I'll likely keep forever as I'll never need more than it can do. I had a Miller 650 tig that was pretty well useless and close to the quality of machine you're looking at (Chinese crap). The low end tig's are dc only so they'll only handle ferrous metals (no aluminum-etc). They also only have air cooled torches that make them painfully slow in welding. I built a couple exhausts with my Miller tig and sold it-disappointed. It was no where near the quality of machine I had learned on in school $10k+ units with water cooled torches that did a much better job. |
Awesome, thanks. Yeah, I don't "need" a tig welder but seeing the all in one stuff got me thinking.
Ill stick just to a plasma. Can I get a decent one for $700-800?
I was also eyeballing this, but damn, I am not sure I want to spend that much just because...on a tool that I wont realy use that often.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_323773-1703-K2820-1___?productId=3554858&pl=1&Ntt=plasma+cutter |
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cide1 Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2015 Posts: 19 Location: Fishers, IN
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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I have a Hypertherm Powermax 30 (3/8" cut is easy using 240 volt power, it could probably do more), a Miller 211 MIG (never tried more than 1/4" on 240 volt), a 12" abrasive chop saw, and a bunch of air and electric grinders. Overall, these let me do a variety of tasks OK, but I don't feel well setup to do real fine work.
My house has bedrooms over my garage, so I don't feel safe having oxy-acytelene tanks.
If money was no object, I would add a metal cutting bandsaw and a TIG welder, but then I would want a tubing bender and a tubing notcher, and then a much bigger fab table, and then.... |
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busmania Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2006 Posts: 1934 Location: Here
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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...and then....
it never ends does it? I have quite the plethora of tools and am running out of space.
I do not have 240v in my garage so am likely looking at 110v units (or combo units). |
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WM971252 Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2004 Posts: 1781 Location: Franklin CT
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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We have a Miller 375 plasma cutter. It is doing an odd start up thing a year later. Called Miller and they answered all our questions and directed us to what to do ( even said it was covered and where to go for service ). I researched it a lot and it seemed that it is well worth the money. Also it is small and comes with a hard shell case. |
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crukab Samba Chef
Joined: December 13, 2002 Posts: 6116 Location: Vermont
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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Good advice Clay ^^^
If I was buying a new or used Plasma Cutter, I'd go w/ a Miller or Hypertherm (they are just down the road from me), they are way better than any cheapodepo Eastwood/ Harbor freight rig. _________________ Tom
My Pops:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604100&highlight=
I know you will always be with me, rest in peace with no more pain. 8/13/14.....
In the yard right now:
'51 Dodge 5 window truck
'65 Bug
'66 Singlecab
'82 Rabbit Truck Diesel from CALI
'86 Doublecab W/T
'91 Vanagon carat/wolfsbrg.Tiico
'88 Dodge Ram pickup
'11 Jetta Wagon |
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Da TOW'D Samba Member
Joined: December 25, 2005 Posts: 1321 Location: Bella Coma Canada
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:46 am Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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I have a Miller 375 plasma I bought in 1999. In 2010 we had a flood in our valley and I had 3 ft. of muddy water in the shop. Both my MIG and Plasma torch were under water- unplugged.
I figured they were toast so I took the backs off more to see what kind of magic was in there.
I pressure washed the mud out and saw that all the magic parts were covered in a waxy covering. I blew the water out.
The next day decided to give it a try
They both have worked fine.
Buy good quality name brand tools and they last
best wishes
Hank _________________ '57 type 1 Blackberry
'58 SC Ruf
'62 type 3 Notch
'92 Eurovan Willy DD
and NUTS |
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tootype2crazy Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007 Posts: 1276 Location: St. Louis Missouri
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:30 am Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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It depends on what you are using it for but I can vouch for the chinese Simadre plasma cutters on Ebay. We had one at the shop I used to work at and literally beat the hell out of it every day and it never blinked. This was 2 years of continuous use. I was so impressed I bought one myself and am enjoying it. It's less than $500 too. _________________ air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's) |
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cornemuse Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2013 Posts: 32 Location: socal
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:04 am Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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Gonna get what you pay for, , , ,
I have a HT Powermax 45. its awsome
TA Arcmaster 185 Tig awesome
Lincoln 180 Dual mig/flux core good, no, awesome too.
(I have more money than good sense I think) |
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busmania Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2006 Posts: 1934 Location: Here
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busmania Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2006 Posts: 1934 Location: Here
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Da TOW'D Samba Member
Joined: December 25, 2005 Posts: 1321 Location: Bella Coma Canada
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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Best thing about those choices is being able to get the consumables when you need them
cheers
Hank. _________________ '57 type 1 Blackberry
'58 SC Ruf
'62 type 3 Notch
'92 Eurovan Willy DD
and NUTS |
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busmania Samba Member
Joined: October 13, 2006 Posts: 1934 Location: Here
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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Well, I bought the miller. Cost more but bought locally in case there are issues in the future. Can't wait to try it! |
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Da TOW'D Samba Member
Joined: December 25, 2005 Posts: 1321 Location: Bella Coma Canada
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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good choice I sure like mine
cheers
Hank _________________ '57 type 1 Blackberry
'58 SC Ruf
'62 type 3 Notch
'92 Eurovan Willy DD
and NUTS |
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crukab Samba Chef
Joined: December 13, 2002 Posts: 6116 Location: Vermont
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Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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busmania wrote: |
Well, I bought the miller. Cost more but bought locally in case there are issues in the future. Can't wait to try it! |
Good choice, I have a Chicago Electric/Harbor frieght rig that was given to me years ago, finally got it fixed, works fine, you can tell it's NOT in the class of a Miller or Hypertherm, but for the $350 into it, I'll work w/ it.
I just put this ^^^^ welding/cutting table together, $66 for the top and the frame I built years ago for another project. I have a Millermatic 130 MIG welder I bought in '95, works fine for the stuff I do. _________________ Tom
My Pops:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604100&highlight=
I know you will always be with me, rest in peace with no more pain. 8/13/14.....
In the yard right now:
'51 Dodge 5 window truck
'65 Bug
'66 Singlecab
'82 Rabbit Truck Diesel from CALI
'86 Doublecab W/T
'91 Vanagon carat/wolfsbrg.Tiico
'88 Dodge Ram pickup
'11 Jetta Wagon |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 5:04 am Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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I was thinking about a plasma cutter the other day.
I'll avoid the plasma/TIG combos.
My question is pros/cons of a build-in compressor model vs one that uses shop compressed air? I do have a pretty good sized air compressor in my garage.
I have a Hobart Handler welder and have been happy with it. When I bought it, I remember reading that the Hobarts were built by one of the other two big brands-I think Lincoln but don't remember for sure.
I'm thinking I'll stick with the Hobart brand as they are a little less expensive and consumables are easy for me to get in my town at the local farm stores. _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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bt Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2004 Posts: 441 Location: chicago
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Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 7:02 am Post subject: Re: I'm thinking of buying a plasma cutter...help!!! |
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I bought this plasma cutter about a year ago but it is still in the box as I have been too busy to play with my cars
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-plasma-cutter.html
I actual bought it as a set with this TIG welder.
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-tig-plasma-cart-kit.html?reltype=2&parent_id=5571
I live near Eastwood's store in Alsip IL. They have classes there and they will teach you to use their stuff. I have been very happy with their products.
Their products suit my needs as I am just a hobbyist. _________________ Most people think that they are thinking....... but all they are really doing is rearranging their prejudices |
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